Many of us find it easy to get vibed up at the start of a new year. It’s also a great time to take a look at what’s working well and what’s not. This ‘meditation’ probably works for most areas of our life, but here are my personal tips for making this year your best guitar year ever!

Note: to keep things easy – I placed this lesson in the Effective Practice module, so you’ll find loads of related stuff right here. :)

Here are my 5 tips on focusing on what matters – and improving your guitar skills!

1. Make time to practice

I truly believe that learning the guitar should be fun. That’s why, in my Beginner Guitar Course, you’ll play your first song during our very first lesson. Keep your guitar routine fun, but always make sure you take some time to really practice the guitar.

- I recommend a 50/50 approach to fun vs. structure.
- Regular sessions are better than long ones. Five minutes per day can make a difference!
- Can you practice at work? Some big companies have a recreation room, and you might find colleagues to jam with!

2. Set goals

It’s essential to set goals to help you track your progress and bring some motivation as well. Your goals should be:

S – Specific: which technique do you need to work on?
M – Measurable: which measurement can you use to track the progress?
A – Attainable: be consistent with your guitar level!
R – Relevant: why do you want to achieve this goal?
T – Time-bound: when do you expect to achieve this goal?

I usually set long, medium, and short term goals. An excellent way of doing this is by asking some questions:

Long-term – What’s the big picture? How long are you going to take to achieve it?
Mid-term – What would you like to have done by the middle of next year?
Short-term – What can you achieve by the end of the month?

Breaking down more complex stuff into smaller pieces is super useful – for guitar learning, goals, and lots of other things! ;)

3. Make the best use of your time

How much time are you spending on social media? I used to spend a lot – and I’m sure many of you do too. Try this BBC article to start, and I encourage you to do your own research. Think about it: would you be a better guitar player if the hours you spent scrolling on your phone were used on your guitar practice?

Use a timer and, if it works for you, use a routine/schedule as well. Keep in mind that the goal here should be not to interrupt your practice section. If your goal is to practice for 10 minutes, they should be 10 uninterrupted minutes. Be careful on YouTube – there are many distractions and clickbait the whole time.

By the way, I recommend that you make sure you practice away from screens as well. Sometimes you don’t need a screen; sometimes, you don’t even need a guitar! Check out my lessons on things you can practice without a guitar.

Remember: keep things fun and motivating. Playing the guitar requires discipline, but it should also be your happy place. If you are bored with an element of your practice, change it. Here are my 6 tools to rekindle love.

4. Accountability

Write your goals down and share them with your friends. Post your plan on social media. Make a video about what you hope to achieve, and keep track of the process with photos and videos. It’s great fun to look back at too! :)

5. Treat Yourself

Nearly all of us can get inspired by new gear. Get yourself something great to kick things off – and then use the rest of my tips to help maintain the passion.

I hope this helps you have a great start to the year! Let me know in the comments what your goals are.